Continuous barcode tape based inventory location tracking using globally unique identifiers and series of discrete barcodes

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are a method, system and/or device of continuous barcode tape based inventory location tracking. In one aspect, a method includes analyzing a layout diagram of a distribution center. The method further includes determining that the layout diagram includes a shelf. A number of segments associated with the shelf based on a forecasted allocation of an inventory on the shelf are calculated. A bar code tape having a globally unique identifier (GUID) associated with each segment of the number of shelves is automatically generated using a processor and a memory of a central inventory tracking system.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This patent application is a Continuation of, and hereby incorporates byreference the entirety of the disclosures of and claims priority topending U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 14/697,651 titled‘CONTINUOUS BARCODE TAPE BASED INVENTORY LOCATION TRACKING’ filed onApr. 28, 2015.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

This disclosure relates generally to the communications field, and moreparticularly to a method, system, and device of inventory tracking in adistribution center using a barcode tape with globally uniqueidentifiers and series of discrete barcodes.

BACKGROUND

A distribution center (e.g., a warehouse, a fulfillment center, across-dock facility, a bulk break center, an unstructured storage area,and/or a package handling center) may be a physical space in whichinventory (e.g., products) are stored for downstream delivery toretailers or consumers. The distribution center may allow a singlelocation to stock a number of products. Some organizations may operateretail and/or direct-to-consumer distribution in a single facility toshare investments (e.g., in space, equipment, labor resources, and/orinventory as applicable).

The distribution center may have a series of rows having stackedshelving. Items may be stored on these shelves. A warehouse managementsystem (e.g., WMS system) may be used to identify and track inventory inthe distribution center. However, the warehouse management system may becost prohibitive to smaller merchants and distributors. Therefore,smaller merchants and distributors may manually keep track of itemsstored in stacked shelving based on shelf number, row number, columnnumber, and/or relative position. They may manually label shelves, rows,and/or columns, and may need manually maintain inventory locationspreadsheets. This may be a time consuming and error prone process. Forexample, items may be mislabeled and incorrectly categorized because ofhuman error.

As a result, workers in the distribution center seeking to findinventory to fulfill a particular request may spend added time infinding needed items. Workers may need to manually look at a map,discern the labels of each product, and/or search for products onshelves by reading individual labels. This may be time consuming andinefficient. When a new worker is employed, it may take time for them todevelop a mental map of the distribution center. This may increase cost.Further, such manual processes may be error prone because they maydepend on human labor. Relabeling and/or rerouting of the distributioncenter to accommodate customized solutions may be difficult to modify,inefficient, expensive, and/or cost prohibitive.

SUMMARY

Disclosed are a method, system and/or device of continuous bar code tapebased inventory location tracking using globally unique identifiers andseries of discrete barcodes.

In one aspect, a method includes analyzing a layout diagram of adistribution center. The method further includes determining that thelayout diagram includes a shelf. A number of segments associated withthe shelf based on a forecasted allocation of an inventory on the shelfare calculated. A bar code tape having a globally unique identifier(GUID) associated with each segment of the number of shelves isautomatically generated using a processor and a memory of a centralinventory tracking system.

The number of segments associated with the shelf may be calculated basedon a size, a position, an availability, a demand, and/or a supply of anitem of the inventory may be placed on the shelf. The bar code tape maybe a continuous bar code tape where a reader device to read any GUIDalong with a length of the shelf of the distribution center. The barcode tape may include a series of discrete bar codes placed adjacent toeach other. Each GUID may be unique to each of the number of segments.Each GUID may be 48 bits in length. Each item in each of the series ofdiscrete bar codes may be a distance of that barcode from a left edge ofthe bar code tape in centimeters encoded by Base-36 into 32 bits. Everybarcode of the series of discrete bar codes may have a preamble to makeit recognizable to the central inventory tracking system.

The method may determine that the item of inventory is scannedassociated with the GUID during a fulfillment process associated with anecommerce order using the processor and the memory of the centralinventory tracking system. A financial account of the distributioncenter may be automatically debited when the bar code tape is utilizedduring the fulfillment process associated with the ecommerce order usingthe central inventory tracking system. A location of the item in thedistribution center may be uniquely identified whenever any GUIDassociated with the bar code tape is scanned. A set of rows associatedwith the shelf may be determined. Additional bar code tapes andadditional GUIDs associated with each segment of the rows for each oneof the set of rows associated with the shelf may be automaticallygenerated based on the number of segments determined to be optimal foreach row of the set of rows associated with the shelf.

The central inventory tracking system may be combined with a LED lightssystem, lightless cart system, and/or a smartphone to manage inventorywith low complexity in real time operations with a set of items havingheterogeneous sizes. The bar code tape may include a series of infrareddots of a fixed size and placed at a varying distance apart from eachother to facilitate faster reads of the barcode through a mobile device.The mobile device may be able to more quickly focus and read data of thebar code tape by first identifying the infrared dots on the bar codetape when identifying a location of the item. The method may furtherinclude generating a map of where the bar code tape is to be placed onthe shelf. The bar code tape may be automatically printed based on acalculation of the number of segments associated with the shelf. The mapand the bar code tape to the distribution center may be shipped forplacement. The central inventory tracking system may be automaticallyvalidate that a particular item is placed in a location consistent witha plan of the distribution center when a particular GUID associated withthe particular item is scanned during an inventory replenishmentprocess.

In another aspect, a method includes determining that a layout diagramof a distribution center includes a shelf. A number of segmentsassociated with the shelf are calculated based on a forecastedallocation of an inventory on the shelf. A bar code tape having aglobally unique identifier (GUID) associated with each segment of thenumber of shelves is automatically generated using a processor and amemory of a central inventory tracking system. The method furtherincludes validating that a particular item is placed in a locationconsistent with a plan of the distribution center when a particular GUIDassociated with the particular item is scanned during an inventoryreplenishment process.

In yet another aspect, a method of a central inventory tracking systemincludes calculating a number of segments associated with a shelf basedon a forecasted allocation of an inventory on the shelf. A bar code tapehaving a globally unique identifier (GUID) associated with each segmentof the number of shelves is automatically generated using a processorand a memory of the central inventory tracking system. The methodfurther includes generating a map of where the bar code tape is to beplaced on the shelf. The bar code tape is automatically printed based onthe calculation of the number of segments associated with the shelf. Themap and the bar code tape to a distribution center are shipped forplacement.

Other features will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and fromthe detailed description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments of this invention are illustrated by way of example andnot limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in whichlike references indicate similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1A is a system view of a distribution center generating a bar codetape using a central inventory tracking system, according to oneembodiment.

FIG. 1B illustrates a block diagram of inventory to calculate a numberof segments associated with a shelf, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual view of the central inventory tracking system ofFIG. 1A, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3A is an exploded view of the central inventory tracking system ofFIG. 1A to manage an inventory, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3B is an inventory replenishment process view to validate and scana particular item using the central inventory tracking system of FIG.1A, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a process flow generating a bar code tape using the centralinventory tracking system of FIG. 1A, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a critical path view illustrating shipping the map and the barcode tape to a distribution center, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a representative computing device thatcan be used to implement the methods and systems, according to oneembodiment.

Other features of the present embodiments will be apparent from theaccompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments, as described below, may be used to provide amethod, system and/or device of continuous bar code tape based inventorylocation tracking using globally unique identifiers and series ofdiscrete barcodes. Although, the present embodiments have been describedwith reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident thatvarious modifications and changes may be made to these embodimentswithout departing from the broader spirit and scope of the variousembodiments.

In one embodiment, a method includes analyzing a layout diagram 102 of adistribution center 104. The method further includes determining thatthe layout diagram 102 includes a shelf 106. A number of segments 108associated with the shelf 106 based on a forecasted allocation 110 of aninventory 112 on the shelf 106 are calculated. A bar code tape 114having a globally unique identifier (GUID) 116 associated with eachsegment of the number of shelves is automatically generated using aprocessor 118 and a memory 120 of a central inventory tracking system100.

The number of segments 108 associated with the shelf 106 may becalculated based on a size 122, a position 124, an availability 126, ademand 128, and/or a supply 130 of an item of the inventory 112 may beplaced on the shelf 106. The bar code tape 114 may be a continuous barcode tape 114 where a mobile device/reader device 103 to read any GUID116 along with a length of the shelf 106 of the distribution center 104.The bar code tape 114 may include a series of discrete bar codes 202placed adjacent to each other. Each GUID 116 may be unique to each ofthe number of segments 108. Each GUID 116 may be 48 bits in length. Eachitem in each of the series of discrete bar codes 202 may be a distanceof that barcode from a left edge of the bar code tape 114 in centimetersencoded by Base-36 into 32 bits. Every barcode of the series of discretebar codes 202 may have a preamble to make it recognizable to the centralinventory tracking system 100.

The method may determine that the item of inventory 112 is scannedassociated with the GUID 116 during a fulfillment process associatedwith an ecommerce order using the processor 118 and the memory 120 ofthe central inventory tracking system 100. A financial account of thedistribution center 104 may be automatically debited when the bar codetape 114 is utilized during the fulfillment process associated with theecommerce order using the central inventory tracking system 100. Alocation of the item in the distribution center 104 may be uniquelyidentified whenever any GUID 116 associated with the bar code tape 114is scanned. A set of rows associated with the shelf 106 may bedetermined. Additional bar code tapes 114 and additional GUIDs 116associated with each segment of the rows for each one of the set of rowsassociated with the shelf 106 may be automatically generated based onthe number of segments 108 determined to be optimal for each row of theset of rows associated with the shelf 106.

The central inventory tracking system 100 may be combined with a LEDlight system 302, lightless cart system 304, and/or a smartphone 306 tomanage inventory 112 with low complexity in real time operations with aset of items having heterogeneous sizes. The bar code tape may include aseries of infrared dots 204 of a fixed size and placed at a varyingdistance apart from each other to facilitate faster reads of the barcodethrough a mobile device/reader device 103. The mobile device/readerdevice 103 may be able to more quickly focus and read data of the barcode tape 114 by first identifying the infrared dots on the bar codetape 114 when identifying a location of the item. The method may furtherinclude generating a map of where the bar code tape 114 is to be placedon the shelf 106. The bar code tape 114 may be automatically printedbased on the calculation of the number of segments 108 associated withthe shelf 106. The map and/or the bar code tape 114 to the distributioncenter 104 may be shipped for placement. The central inventory trackingsystem 100 may be automatically validate that a particular item 308 isplaced in a location consistent with a plan 310 of the distributioncenter 104 when a particular GUID 312 associated with the particularitem 308 is scanned during an inventory replenishment process.

In another embodiment, a method includes determining that a layoutdiagram 102 of a distribution center 104 includes a shelf 106. A numberof segments 108 associated with the shelf 106 are calculated based on aforecasted allocation 110 of an inventory 112 on the shelf 106. A barcode tape 114 having a globally unique identifier (GUID) 116 associatedwith each segment of the number of shelves is automatically generatedusing a processor 118 and a memory 120 of a central inventory trackingsystem 100. The method further includes validating that a particularitem 308 is placed in a location consistent with a plan 310 of thedistribution center 104 when a particular GUID 312 associated with theparticular item 308 is scanned during an inventory replenishmentprocess.

In yet another embodiment, a method of a central inventory trackingsystem 100 includes calculating a number of segments 108 associated witha shelf 106 based on a forecasted allocation 110 of an inventory 112 onthe shelf 106. A bar code tape 114 having a globally unique identifier(GUID) 116 associated with each segment of the number of shelves isautomatically generated using a processor 118 and a memory 120 of thecentral inventory tracking system 100. The method further includesgenerating a map of where the bar code tape 114 is to be placed on theshelf 106. The bar code tape 114 is automatically printed based on thecalculation of the number of segments 108 associated with the shelf 106.The map and the bar code tape 114 to a distribution center 104 areshipped for placement.

FIG. 1A is a system view 150 of a distribution center 104 generating abar code tape 114 using a central inventory tracking system 100,according to one embodiment.

Particularly, FIG. 1A shows a central inventory tracking system 100, anetwork 101, a layout diagram 102, a distribution center 104, a shelf106, a number of segments 108, a forecasted allocation 110, an inventory112, a bar code tape 114, a globally unique identifier (GUID) 116, aprocessor 118, a memory 120 and a database 121, according to oneembodiment.

A central inventory tracking system 100 may be a computing systemspecially configured to observe and monitor location and placement ofinventory in a distribution center. The central inventory trackingsystem 100 may read (e.g., read from bar code) any passive and activeglobally unique identifier (GUID) 116 and analyze read data into Work inProgress models of the distribution center(s) 104. However the centralinventory tracking system 100 could also be capable to providemonitoring data without being associated to a single by using acooperative tracking capability (e.g., may be spread across multiplegeographies). A network 101 may be a group of computing devices (e.g.,hardware and software) that may be linked together through communicationchannels (e.g., wired, wireless) to facilitate communication andresource-sharing among a wide range of users, according to oneembodiment.

A layout diagram 102 may be a simplified drawing and/or a schematicrepresentation showing a structure and/or an arrangement of thedistribution center 104. A mobile device/reader device 103 may be ageneric term used to refer to a variety of devices that allow user 105to access data and information from where ever they are. This mayinclude cell phones and portable devices such as a smartphone 306 ofFIG. 3A and/or tablet computer. The mobile device/reader device 103 maybe used to read the data of the bar code tape 114 on the shelf 106 inthe distribution center 104, according to one embodiment.

In one embodiment, a distribution center 104 may be a building;structure and/or group of units used to store goods and/or merchandisethat are to be delivered to various places on an as-needed basis. Largefacilities may be sometimes shared by several businesses to reduce eachcompany's overhead. A distribution center 104 may ship goods to oneand/or many destinations. A user 105 may be a person who may use and/oroperate the mobile device/reader device 103 in the distribution center104.

A shelf 106 may be a flat horizontal plane which is used in a home, abusiness, a store, and/or a distribution center 104 to hold items ofvalue that are being displayed, stored, and/or offered for sale. A shelf106 may be raised off the ground and usually anchored/supported on itsshorter length sides by brackets. A shelf may also be held up by columnsand/or pillars, according to one embodiment. Number of segments 108 maybe the rows one on another associated with the shelf 106 used to holdthe inventory 112 in the distribution center 104, according to oneembodiment.

A forecasted allocation 110 may be a predicted/estimated action and/orprocess of allocating and sharing out the inventory 112 on the shelf106, according to one embodiment. An inventory 112 may be a company'smerchandise, raw materials, and/or finished and unfinished productswhich may have not yet been sold. A bar code tape 114 may consist of agroup of printed and/or variously patterned bars and spaces andsometimes numerals that may be designed to be scanned and read intocomputer memory and that contains information (as identification) aboutthe object it labels. A bar code tape 114 may have a globally uniqueidentifier (GUID) 116, according to one embodiment.

A globally unique identifier (GUID) 116 may be a 128-bit number createdby the operating system and/or another application to uniquely identifyspecific components, hardware, software, files, user accounts, databaseentries and/or other items. The globally unique identifier (GUID) 116may be associated with each segment of the number of shelves using thecentral inventory tracking system 100. A processor 118 may be a centralunit of the computer and/or mobile device/reader device 103 containingthe logic circuitry to perform all the basic instructions of a computerprogram, according to one embodiment.

A memory 120 may be a device used to store data or programs (e.g.,sequences of instructions) on a temporary and/or permanent basis for usein an electronic digital computer. A database 121 may be a collection ofinformation that is organized so that it can easily be accessed,managed, and/or updated, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 1A illustrates the central inventory tracking system 100communicatively coupled with the mobile device/reader device 103 of theuser 105 through the network 101. The Bar code tape 114 having theglobally unique identifier (GUID) 116 is coupled with the centralinventory tracking system 100 and the number of segments 108 of theshelf 106. The inventory 112 is stored on the number of segments 108 ofthe shelf 106 in the distribution center 104, according to oneembodiment.

In circle ‘1’, the method analyzes the layout diagram 102 of thedistribution center 104. In circle ‘2’, the method determines that thelayout diagram 102 includes the shelf 106. In circle ‘3’, the number ofsegments 108 associated with the shelf 106 are calculated based on theforecasted allocation 110 of the inventory 112 on the shelf 106. Incircle ‘4’, the bar code tape 114 having the globally unique identifier(GUID) 116 associated with each segment of the number of shelves isautomatically generated using the processor 118 and the memory 120 ofthe central inventory tracking system 100, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 1B illustrates a block diagram 151 of inventory 112 to calculate anumber of segments 108 associated with a shelf 106, according to oneembodiment.

Particularly, FIG. 1B builds on FIG. 1A, and further adds a size 122, aposition 124, availability 126, a demand 128 and a supply 130, accordingto one embodiment.

A size 122 may be the relative extent of the inventory item; aninventory item's overall dimensions and/or magnitude; how big theinventory item may be. A position 124 may be a particular way in whichan item of the inventory 112 is placed and/or arranged on the shelf 106in the distribution center 104, according to one embodiment.Availability 126 may be a quantity of products currently located ininventory. The products in the inventory 112 of FIG. 1A may be ready touse for the customers, according to one embodiment.

In one embodiment, a demand 128 may be an amount of the inventory 112that a consumer and/or a group of consumers may want to purchase at agiven price, according to one embodiment. A supply 130 may be afundamental economic concept that may describe the total amount of theinventory 112 of FIG. 1A that may be available to consumers.

FIG. 1B illustrates the item of the inventory 112 including the size122, the position 124, the availability 126, the demand 128 and thesupply 130. The number of segments 108 is associated with the item ofthe inventory 112 of FIG. 1A, according to one embodiment.

In circle ‘5’, the number of segments 108 associated with the shelf 106is calculated based on the size 122, the position 124, the availability126, the demand 128, and the supply 130 of the item of the inventory 112to be placed on the shelf 106 of FIG. 1A, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual view 250 of the central inventory tracking system100 of FIG. 1A, according to one embodiment.

Particularly, FIG. 2 builds on FIG. 1A, and further adds a series ofdiscrete bar codes 202 and a series of infrared dots 204, according toone embodiment.

In one embodiment, a series of discrete bar codes 202 may consist ofindividually separate and distinct group of printed and/or variouslypatterned bars and spaces and sometimes numerals that may be designed tobe scanned and read into computer memory and that may containinformation (as identification) about the object it labels. A series ofinfrared dots 204 (of electromagnetic radiation) may be the sequence ofparticles of a fixed size having a wavelength just greater than that ofthe red end of the visible light spectrum but less than that ofmicrowaves.

FIG. 2 illustrates the central inventory tracking system 100communicatively coupled with the mobile device/reader device 103 of theuser 105 through the network 101. The Bar code tape 114 having theglobally unique identifier (GUID) 116 is coupled with the centralinventory tracking system 100 and the number of segments 108 of theshelf 106. The inventory 112 is stored on the number of segments 108 ofthe shelf 106 in the distribution center 104. The bar code tape 114having the globally unique identifier (GUID) 116 associated with eachsegment of the number of shelves is automatically generated using theprocessor 118 and the memory 120 of the central inventory trackingsystem 100 of FIG. 1A, according to one embodiment.

In one embodiment, the bar code tape 114 is a continuous bar code tape114 where the mobile device/reader device 103 to read any globallyunique identifier (GUID) 116 along with a length of the shelf 106 of thedistribution center 104 of FIG. 1A. The bar code tape 114 includes aseries of discrete bar codes 202 placed adjacent to each other.

The bar code tape 114 includes a series of infrared dots 204 of a fixedsize and placed at a varying distance apart from each other tofacilitate faster reads of the barcode through a mobile device/readerdevice 103. The mobile device/reader device 103 is able to more quicklyfocus and read data of the bar code tape 114 by first identifying theinfrared dots on the bar code tape 114 when identifying a location ofthe item on the shelf 106 in the distribution center 104 of FIG. 1A,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3A is an exploded view 350 of the central inventory tracking system100 of FIG. 1A to manage the inventory 112, according to one embodiment.

Particularly, FIG. 3A builds on FIG. 1A, and further adds a LED lightsystem 302, a lightless cart system 304 and a smartphone 306, accordingto one embodiment.

A LED light system 302 may be a method of a light-emitting diode (LED),which may be a two-lead semiconductor light source. As with other lightsource technologies, such as fluorescent and high intensity discharge,lighting systems using LEDs can be thought of as having a light source,ballast, and a luminaire. A lightless cart system 304 may be a techniqueof a strong open vehicle with four wheels having no light, typicallyused for carrying the inventory 112 in the distribution center 104 ofFIG. 1A, according to one embodiment.

A smartphone 306 may be a mobile device/reader device 103 that mayperform many of the functions of a computer, typically having atouchscreen interface, internet access, and/or an operating systemcapable of running downloaded applications. A smartphone 306 may be usedto manage inventory 112 of FIG. 1A, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3A illustrates the central inventory tracking system 100 iscommunicatively coupled with the LED light system 302, the lightlesscart system 304 and the smartphone 306. The central inventory trackingsystem 100 is combined with the LED light system 302, the lightless cartsystem 304, and the smartphone 306 to manage inventory 112 of FIG. 1Awith low complexity in real time operations with a set of items havingheterogeneous sizes, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3B is an inventory replenishment process view 351 to validate andscan a particular item 308 using the central inventory tracking system100 of FIG. 1A, according to one embodiment.

Particularly, FIG. 3B builds on FIG. 1A, and further adds a particularitem 308, a plan 310, a particular GUID 312 and an inventoryreplenishment process 314, according to one embodiment.

A particular item 308 may be an individual product in the inventory 112which may be a company's merchandise, raw materials, and/or finished andunfinished products which may have not yet been sold. A plan 310 ofdistribution center 104 may be a design and/or a blueprint produced toshow the look, function and/or workings of the distribution center 104of FIG. 1A, according to one embodiment.

In one embodiment, a particular GUID 312 may be an individual globallyunique identifier (GUID) 116 which may be a 128-bit number created bythe Windows operating system and/or another Windows application touniquely identify specific components, hardware, software, files, useraccounts, database entries and/or other items. Particular GUID 312 maybe associated with the particular item 308. An inventory replenishmentprocess 314 may be a method of movement of the inventory 112 of FIG. 1Afrom upstream and/or reserve product storage locations to downstream andprimary storage, picking and shipment locations.

Particularly, FIG. 3B illustrates the central inventory tracking system100 communicatively coupled with the mobile device/reader device 103 ofthe user 105 through the network. The central inventory tracking systemis associated with the particular item 308 containing the particularGUID 312 of the plan 310 of the distribution center 104. The particularitem 308 is coupled with the inventory replenishment process 314,according to one embodiment.

In one embodiment, the central inventory tracking system 100 isautomatically validated that the particular item 308 is placed in alocation consistent with a plan 310 of the distribution center 104 ofFIG. 1A when a particular GUID 312 associated with the particular item308 is scanned during an inventory replenishment process 314.

FIG. 4 is a process flow 450 generating a bar code tape 114 using thecentral inventory tracking system 100 of FIG. 1A, according to oneembodiment.

In operation 402, a method may analyze a layout diagram 102 of adistribution center 104. In operation 404, the method may determine thatthe layout diagram 102 includes a shelf 106. In operation 406, a numberof segments 108 may be calculated associated with the shelf 106 based ona forecasted allocation 110 of an inventory 112 on the shelf 106,according to one embodiment.

In operation 408, a bar code tape 114 having a globally uniqueidentifier (GUID) 116 associated with each segment of the number ofshelves may be automatically generated using the processor 118 and thememory 120 of a central inventory tracking system 100 of FIG. 1A,according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a critical path view 550 illustrating shipping the map and thebar code tape 114 to a distribution center 104 of FIG. 1A, according toone embodiment.

In operation 502, a number of segments 108 associated with a shelf 106may be calculated based on a forecasted allocation 110 of an inventory112 on the shelf 106. In operation 504, a bar code tape 114 having aglobally unique identifier (GUID) 116 associated with each segment ofthe number of shelves may be automatically generated using the processor118 and the memory 120 of the central inventory tracking system 100 ofFIG. 1A, according to one embodiment.

In operation 506, the method may generate a map of where the bar codetape 114 is to be placed on the shelf 106. In operation 508, the barcode tape 114 may be automatically printed based on the calculation ofthe number of segments 108 associated with the shelf 106. In operation510, the map and the bar code tape 114 may be shipped to a distributioncenter 104 of FIG. 1A for placement, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram 680 of representative computing devices600 that can be used to implement the methods and systems disclosedherein, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram 680 of the representative computingdevices 600 and a mobile device 630 that can be used to perform and/orimplement any of the embodiments disclosed herein. In one or moreembodiments, central inventory tracking system 100 and/or mobiledevice/reader device 103 of FIG. 1A may be the representative computingdevices 600.

The representative computing devices 600 may represent various forms ofdigital computers, such as laptops, desktops, workstations, personaldigital assistants, servers, blade servers, mainframes, and/or otherappropriate computers. The mobile device 630 may represent various formsof mobile devices, such as smartphones, camera phones, personal digitalassistants, cellular telephones, and other similar mobile devices. Thecomponents shown here, their connections, couples, and relationships,and their functions, are meant to be exemplary only, and are not meantto limit the embodiments described and/or claimed.

The representative computing devices 600 may include a processor 602, amemory 604, a storage device 606, a high speed interface 608 coupled tothe memory 604 and a plurality of high speed expansion ports 610, and alow speed interface 612 coupled to a low speed bus 614 and a storagedevice 606. In one embodiment, each of the components heretofore may beinter-coupled using various buses, and may be mounted on a commonmotherboard and/or in other manners as appropriate.

The processor 602 may process instructions for execution in therepresentative computing devices 600, including instructions stored inthe memory 604 and/or on the storage device 606 to display a graphicalinformation for a GUI on an external input/output device, such as adisplay unit 616 coupled to the high speed interface 608. In otherembodiments, multiple processor(s) 602 and/or multiple buses may beused, as appropriate, along with multiple memories and/or types ofmemory 604. Also, a plurality of representative computing devices 600may be coupled with, with each device providing portions of thenecessary operations (e.g., as a server bank, a group of blade servers,and/or a multi-processor system).

The memory 604 may be coupled to the representative computing devices600. In one embodiment, the memory 604 may be a volatile memory. Inanother embodiment, the memory 604 may be a non-volatile memory. Thememory 604 may also be another form of computer-readable medium, such asa magnetic and/or an optical disk. The storage device 606 may be capableof providing mass storage for the representative computing devices 600.

In one embodiment, the storage device 606 may be included of a floppydisk device, a hard disk device, an optical disk device, a tape device,a flash memory and/or other similar solid state memory device. Inanother embodiment, the storage device 606 may be an array of thedevices in a computer-readable medium previously mentioned heretofore,computer-readable medium, such as, and/or an array of devices, includingdevices in a storage area network and/or other configurations.

A computer program may be included of instructions that, when executed,perform one or more methods, such as those described above. Theinstructions may be stored in the memory 604, the storage device 606, amemory 604 coupled to the processor 602, and/or a propagated signal.

The high speed interface 608 may manage bandwidth-intensive operationsfor the representative computing devices 600, while the low speedinterface 612 may manage lower bandwidth-intensive operations. Suchallocation of functions is exemplary only. In one embodiment, the highspeed interface 608 may be coupled to the memory 604, the display unit616 (e.g., through a graphics processor and/or an accelerator), and tothe plurality of high speed expansion ports 610, which may acceptvarious expansion cards.

In the embodiment, the low speed interface 612 may be coupled to thestorage device 606 and the low speed bus 614. The low speed bus 614 maybe included of a wired and/or wireless communication port (e.g., aUniversal Serial Bus (“USB”), a Bluetooth® port, an Ethernet port,and/or a wireless Ethernet port). The low speed bus 614 may also becoupled to scan unit 628, a printer 626, a keyboard, a mouse 624, and anetworking device (e.g., a switch and/or a router) through a networkadapter.

The representative computing devices 600 may be implemented in a numberof different forms, as shown in the Figure. In one embodiment, therepresentative computing devices 600 may be implemented as a standardserver 618 and/or a group of such servers. In another embodiment, therepresentative computing devices 600 may be implemented as part of arack server system 622. In yet another embodiment, the representativecomputing devices 600 may be implemented as a general computer 620 suchas a laptop and/or desktop computer. Alternatively, a component from therepresentative computing devices 600 may be combined with anothercomponent in a mobile device 630.

In one or more embodiments, an entire system may be made up of aplurality of representative computing devices 600 and/or a plurality ofrepresentative computing devices 600 coupled to a plurality of mobiledevice 630.

In one embodiment, the mobile device 630 may include a mobile compatibleprocessor 632, a mobile compatible memory 634, and an input/outputdevice such as a mobile display 646, a communication interface 652, anda transceiver 638, among other components. The mobile device 630 mayalso be provided with a storage device, such as a Microdrive and/orother device, to provide additional storage. In one embodiment, thecomponents indicated heretofore are inter-coupled using various buses,and several of the components may be mounted on a common motherboard.

The mobile compatible processor 632 may execute instructions in themobile device 630, including instructions stored in the mobilecompatible memory 634. The mobile compatible processor 632 may beimplemented as a chipset of chips that include separate and multipleanalog and digital processors. The mobile compatible processor 632 mayprovide, for example, for coordination of the other components of themobile device 630, such as control of user interfaces, applications runby the mobile device 630, and wireless communication by the mobiledevice 630.

The mobile compatible processor 632 may communicate with a user 105through the control interface 636 and the display interface 644 coupledto a mobile display 646. In one embodiment, the mobile display 646 maybe a Thin-Film-Transistor Liquid Crystal Display (“TFT LCD”), an OrganicLight Emitting Diode (“OLED”) display, and another appropriate displaytechnology. The display interface 644 may include appropriate circuitryfor driving the mobile display 646 to present graphical and otherinformation to a user 105.

The control interface 636 may receive commands from a user 105 andconvert them for submission to the mobile compatible processor 632. Inaddition, an external interface 642 may be provided in communicationwith the mobile compatible processor 632, so as to enable near areacommunication of the mobile device 630 with other devices. Externalinterface 642 may provide, for example, for wired communication in someembodiments, and/or for wireless communication in other embodiments, andmultiple interfaces may also be used.

The mobile compatible memory 634 may be coupled to the mobile device630. The mobile compatible memory 634 may be implemented as a volatilememory and a non-volatile memory. The expansion memory 658 may also becoupled to the mobile device 630 through the expansion interface 656,which may include, for example, a Single In Line Memory Module (“SIMM”)card interface. The expansion memory 658 may provide extra storage spacefor the mobile device 630, and/or may also store an application and/orother information for the mobile device 630.

Specifically, the expansion memory 658 may include instructions to carryout the processes described above. The expansion memory 658 may alsoinclude secure information. For example, the expansion memory 658 may beprovided as a security module for the mobile device 630, and may beprogrammed with instructions that permit secure use of the mobile device630. In addition, a secure application may be provided on the SIMM card,along with additional information, such as placing identifyinginformation on the SIMM card in a non-hackable manner.

The mobile compatible memory 634 may include a volatile memory (e.g., aflash memory) and a non-volatile memory (e.g., a non-volatilerandom-access memory (“NVRAM”)). In one embodiment, a computer programincludes a set of instructions that, when executed, perform one or moremethods. The set of instructions may be stored on the mobile compatiblememory 634, the expansion memory 658, a memory coupled to the mobilecompatible processor 632, and a propagated signal that may be received,for example, over the transceiver 638 and/or the external interface 642.

The mobile device 630 may communicate wirelessly through thecommunication interface 652, which may be included of a digital signalprocessing circuitry. The communication interface 652 may provide forcommunications using various modes and/or protocols, such as: a GlobalSystem for Mobile Communications (“GSM”) protocol, a Short MessageService (“SMS”) protocol, an Enhanced Messaging System (“EMS”) protocol,a Multimedia Messaging Service (“MMS”) protocol, a Code DivisionMultiple Access (“CDMA”) protocol, Time Division Multiple Access(“TDMA”) protocol, a Personal Digital Cellular (“PDC”) protocol, aWideband Code Division Multiple Access (“WCDMA”) protocol, a CDMA2000protocol, and a General Packet Radio Service (“GPRS”) protocol.

Such communication may occur, for example, through the transceiver 638(e.g., radio-frequency transceiver). In addition, short-rangecommunication may occur, such as using a Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi, and/or othersuch transceiver. In addition, a GPS (“Global Positioning System”)receiver module may provide additional navigation-related andlocation-related wireless data to the mobile device 630, which may beused as appropriate by a software application running on the mobiledevice 630.

The mobile device 630 may also communicate audibly using an audio codec640, which may receive spoken information from a user 105 and convert itto usable digital information. The audio codec 640 may likewise generateaudible sound for a user 105, such as through a speaker (e.g., in ahandset of the mobile device 630). Such a sound may include a sound froma voice telephone call, a recorded sound (e.g., a voice message, a musicfiles, etc.) and may also include a sound generated by an applicationoperating on the mobile device 630.

The mobile device 630 may be implemented in a number of different forms,as shown in the Figure. In one embodiment, the mobile device 630 may beimplemented as a smartphone 648. In another embodiment, the mobiledevice 630 may be implemented as a personal digital assistant (“PDA”).In yet another embodiment, the mobile device, 630 may be implemented asa tablet device.

An example embodiment will now be described. Inventory management maynot be an easy task. It may be hard to keep a track of where anyparticular item is at any given time. Manufacturers, retailers, and/ordistributors may use the various embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 to bettermanage their inventories, proving a relatively simple, cost-effectivesystem, providing up-to-the-minute information on inventory status.

For an example embodiment, when integrated into an existing informationsystem, the various embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 may allow you to track yourmerchandise and may conduct both full-scale inventories department-widecycle counts. Inventory may be reconciled in a day instead of weeks. Andthe various embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 may provide more accurate datawhile saving both time and costs.

For another example embodiment, manufacturers and/or distributors mayuse the various embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 to track production, parts,shipping, and/or warehousing. A variety of labels and scanning systems(central inventory tracking system) may be available to accommodate bothwarehouse and manufacturing environments. Many national chains mayrequire manufacturers to ship their products already tagged and thevarious embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 to their specifications.

Another example embodiment will now be described, in accordance with atleast one embodiment. Retailers may utilize the various embodiments ofFIGS. 1-6 for the inventory control, which is crucial to the success oftheir businesses. Inventory cycle counts, point-of-sale checkout,purchasing, and/or sales analysis may be just a few of the benefits ofthe various embodiments of FIGS. 1-6. Retail, package delivery,warehousing and distribution, manufacturing, health care, and/orpoint-of-service applications can all benefit from the use of thevarious embodiments of FIGS. 1-6.

The various embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 may read with a scanner (the mobiledevice/reader device), which measures reflected light and interprets thecode into numbers and/or letters that are passed on to a computer(central inventory tracking system).

For an example embodiment, the various embodiments of FIGS. 1-6,automatic identification and GUID may encompass the automaticrecognition, decoding, processing, transmission and/or recording ofdata, commonly through the printing and reading of information encodedin the various embodiments of FIGS. 1-6. The various embodiments ofFIGS. 1-6 may allow for rapid, simple and/or accurate reading andtransmission of data for items that need to be tracked and/or managed.

With the various embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 data collection solution,capturing data may be faster and more accurate, costs may be lower,mistakes may be minimized, and managing inventory may be much easier.

With the various embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 applied to each item ininventory, portable scanners (mobile devices/reader devices) may be usedto track shipping and receiving and quickly take physical inventory. Thedata from portable scanners (mobile devices/reader devices) may beuploaded to a central inventory tracking system at regular intervals andportables may update inventory in real-time.

The various embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 in inventory control may provideaccurate, real-time inventory updates. This may allow a company theopportunity to reduce stock levels and thereby reduce carrying costs. Itmay also reduce the time taken to collect data for purposes such asannual inventories. With improved efficiency, operating costs may belower using the various embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 as described herein.

Because the various embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 make it possible to trackinventory so precisely, inventory levels can be reduced. This maytranslate into a lower overheard. The location of inventory item mayalso be tracked, reducing the time spent searching for it, and the moneyspent, replacing inventory item that is presumed lost. The variousembodiments of FIGS. 1-6 may eliminate manual data entry and mistakesfor parts checkout, return, receipt, and/or reorder.

Another example embodiment will now be described, in accordance with atleast one embodiment. A distribution center Rivian Automotive in Floridamay be a physical space in which inventory (e.g., cars and their spareparts) is stored for downstream delivery to automobile industries in theRivian Automotive network. The distribution center may allow a singlelocation to stock a number of cars and their spare parts.

The Florida based distribution center of Rivian Automotive may have aseries of rows having stacked shelving. In addition, cars and theirspare parts may be stored on these shelves. Thanks to the variousembodiments of the FIGS. 1-6, the Florida based distribution center mayemploy the methods described herein of the barcode tape 114 to identifyand track inventory in the distribution center. The central inventorytracking system described in the various embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 may beaffordable to smaller car merchants and car distributors like RivianAutomotive's Florida based distribution center. Therefore, car merchantsand/or car distributors like Rivian Automotive may not need to manuallykeep track of spare parts of car stored in stacked shelving based onshelf number, row number, column number, and/or relative position thanksto their adoption of the various technologies described in FIGS. 1-6.Further, employees of Rivian Automotive may not need to manually labelshelves, rows, and/or columns, and may not need to manually maintaininventory location spreadsheets thanks to deploying the varioustechnologies described in FIGS. 1-6. Employing the various technologiesof FIGS. 1-6 may reduce time and create efficiency for RivianAutomotive. Therefore, Rivian Automotive may operate more profitably andsuccessfully, and thrive in the face of stiff competition.

Thanks to the various embodiments of the FIGS. 1-6, workers in thedistribution center seeking to find spare parts to fulfill a particularrequest may spend less time in finding needed spare parts. Workers maynot need to manually look at a map, discern the labels of each product,and/or search for products on shelves by reading individual labels.Utilizing the various embodiments described in FIGS. 1-6 may take lesstime, and increase productivity. When a new worker Amy is employed, hemay be quickly productive thanks to the embodiments of FIGS. 1-6. Thismay reduce cost and increase productivity of Rivian to the investors.Further, such automated processes may be less error prone because theymay not depend on human labor thanks to the embodiments of FIGS. 1-6.Relabeling and/or rerouting of the distribution center to accommodatecustomized solutions may not be essential thanks to the continuous barcode tape and the central tracking system for ease of scanning of thevarious embodiments described in FIGS. 1-6.

Various embodiments of the methods and system described here can berealized in at least one of a digital electronic circuitry, anintegrated circuitry, a specially designed application specificintegrated circuits (“ASICs”), a piece of computer hardware, a firmware,a software application, and a combination thereof. These variousembodiments can include embodiment in one or more computer programs thatare executable and/or interpretable on a programmable system includingat least one programmable processor, which may be special or generalpurpose, coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmitdata and instructions to, a storage system, an input device, and/or anoutput device.

These computer programs (also known as programs, software, softwareapplications, and/or code) comprise machine-readable instructions for aprogrammable processor, and can be implemented in a high-levelprocedural and/or object-oriented programming language, and/or inassembly/machine language. As used herein, the terms “machine-readablemedium” and/or “computer-readable medium” refers to any computer programproduct, apparatus and/or device (e.g., magnetic discs, optical disks,memory, and/or Programmable Logic Devices (“PLDs”)) used to providemachine instructions and/or data to a programmable processor, includinga machine-readable medium that receives machine instructions as amachine-readable signal. The term “machine-readable signal” refers toany signal used to provide machine instructions and/or data to aprogrammable processor.

To provide for interaction with a user, the systems and techniquesdescribed here may be implemented on a computing device having a displaydevice (e.g., a cathode ray tube (“CRT”) and/or liquid crystal (“LCD”)monitor) for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and amouse by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kind ofdevices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well. Forexample, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensoryfeedback (e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, and/or tactilefeedback) and input from the user can be received in any form, includingacoustic, speech, and/or tactile input.

The systems and techniques described here may be implemented in acomputing system that includes a back end component (e.g., as a dataserver), a middleware component (e.g., an application server), a frontend component (e.g., a client computer having a graphical userinterface, and/or a Web browser through which a user can interact withan embodiment of the systems and techniques described here), and acombination thereof. The components of the system may also be coupledthrough a communication network.

The communication network may include a local area network (“LAN”)and/or a wide area network (“WAN”) (e.g., the Internet). The computingsystem can include a client and/or a server. In one embodiment, theclient and/or the server are remote from each other and interact throughthe communication network.

A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless, it will beunderstood that various modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the claimed invention. In addition, the logicflows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order shown,or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In addition, othersteps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the describedflows, and other components may be added to, or removed from, thedescribed systems. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scopeof the following claims.

It may be appreciated that the various systems, device and apparatusdisclosed herein may be embodied in a machine-readable medium and/or amachine accessible medium compatible with a data processing system(e.g., a computer system), and/or may be performed in any order.

The structures and modules in the figures may be shown as distinct andcommunicating with only a few specific structures and not others. Thestructures may be merged with each other, may perform overlappingfunctions, and may communicate with other structures not shown to beconnected in the figures. Accordingly, the specification and/or drawingsmay be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: analyzing a layout diagramof a distribution center; determining that the layout diagram includes ashelf; calculating a number of segments associated with the shelf basedon a forecasted allocation of an inventory on the shelf; andautomatically generating a bar code tape having a globally uniqueidentifier (GUID) associated with each segment of the number of shelvesusing a processor and a memory of a central inventory tracking system,wherein the bar code tape is a continuous bar code tape where a readerdevice to read any GUID along with a length of the shelf of thedistribution center, wherein the bar code tape is comprised of a seriesof discrete bar codes placed adjacent to each other, wherein the barcode tape includes a series of infrared dots of a fixed size and placedat a varying distance apart from each other to facilitate faster readsof a barcode through a mobile device, wherein the mobile device is ableto more quickly focus and read data of the bar code tape by firstidentifying the infrared dots of the bar code tape when identifying alocation of an item of the inventory, wherein each GUID is unique toeach of the number of segments, wherein each GUID is 48 bits in thelength, and wherein every barcode of the series of discrete bar codeshas a preamble to make it recognizable to the central inventory trackingsystem.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: determining thatthe item of the inventory is scanned associated with the GUID during afulfillment process associated with an ecommerce order using theprocessor and the memory of the central inventory tracking system; andautomatically debiting a financial account of the distribution centerwhen the bar code tape is utilized during the fulfillment processassociated with the ecommerce order using the central inventory trackingsystem.
 3. The method of claim 2 further comprising uniquely identifyingthe location of the item in the distribution center whenever any GUIDassociated with the bar code tape is scanned.
 4. The method of claim 1further comprising: determining a set of rows associated with the shelf;and automatically generating additional bar code tapes and additionalGUIDs associated with each segment of the rows for each one of the setof rows associated with the shelf based on the number of segmentsdetermined to be optimal for each row of the set of rows associated withthe shelf.
 5. The method of claim 4 further comprising: calculating thenumber of segments associated with the shelf based on at least one of asize, a position, an availability, a demand, and a supply of the item tobe placed on the shelf.
 6. The method of claim 1: wherein the centralinventory tracking system is combined with at least one of a LED lightssystem, a lightless cart system, and a smartphone to manage theinventory with low complexity in real time operations with a set ofitems having heterogeneous sizes.
 7. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising: generating a map of where the bar code tape is to be placedon the shelf; automatically printing the bar code tape based on acalculation of the number of segments associated with the shelf; andshipping the map and the bar code tape to the distribution center forplacement.
 8. The method of claim 1: wherein the central inventorytracking system to automatically validate that a particular item isplaced in the location consistent with a plan of the distribution centerwhen a particular GUID associated with the particular item is scannedduring an inventory replenishment process.
 9. A method comprising:determining that a layout diagram of a distribution center includes ashelf; calculating a number of segments associated with the shelf basedon a forecasted allocation of an inventory on the shelf; automaticallygenerating a bar code tape having a globally unique identifier (GUID)associated with each segment of the number of shelves using a processorand a memory of a central inventory tracking system; and validating thata particular item is placed in a location consistent with a plan of thedistribution center when a particular GUID associated with theparticular item is scanned during an inventory replenishment process,wherein the bar code tape is a continuous bar code tape where a readerdevice to read any GUID along with a length of the shelf of thedistribution center, wherein the bar code tape is comprised of a seriesof discrete bar codes placed adjacent to each other, wherein the barcode tape includes a series of infrared dots of a fixed size and placedat a varying distance apart from each other to facilitate faster readsof a bar code through a mobile device, wherein the mobile device is ableto more quickly focus and read data of the bar code tape by firstidentifying the infrared dots of the bar code tape when identifying thelocation of an item of the inventory, wherein each GUID is unique toeach of the number of segments, wherein each GUID is 48 bits in thelength, and wherein every barcode of the series of discrete bar codeshas a preamble to make it recognizable to the central inventory trackingsystem.
 10. The method of claim 9 further comprising: determining thatthe item of the inventory is scanned associated with the GUID during afulfillment process associated with an ecommerce order using theprocessor and the memory of the central inventory tracking system; andautomatically debiting a financial account of the distribution centerwhen the bar code tape is utilized during the fulfillment processassociated with the ecommerce order using the central inventory trackingsystem.
 11. The method of claim 9 further comprising: determining a setof rows associated with the shelf; and automatically generatingadditional bar code tapes and additional GUIDs associated with eachsegment of the rows for each one of the set of rows associated with theshelf based on the number of segments determined to be optimal for eachrow of the set of rows associated with the shelf.
 12. The method ofclaim 11 further comprising: calculating the number of segmentsassociated with the shelf based on at least one of a size, a position,an availability, a demand, and a supply of the item of the inventory tobe placed on the shelf.
 13. The method of claim 9: wherein the centralinventory tracking system is combined with at least one of a LED lightssystem, a lightless cart system, and a smartphone to manage theinventory with low complexity in real time operations with a set ofitems having heterogeneous sizes.
 14. The method of claim 9 furthercomprising: generating a map of where the bar code tape is to be placedon the shelf; automatically printing the bar code tape based on acalculation of the number of segments associated with the shelf; andshipping the map and the bar code tape to the distribution center forplacement.
 15. A method of a central inventory tracking systemcomprising: calculating a number of segments associated with a shelfbased on a forecasted allocation of an inventory on the shelf;automatically generating a bar code tape having a globally uniqueidentifier (GUID) associated with each segment of a number of shelvesusing a processor and a memory of the central inventory tracking system;generating a map of where the bar code tape is to be placed on theshelf; automatically printing the bar code tape based on a calculationof the number of segments associated with the shelf; and shipping themap and the bar code tape to a distribution center for placement,wherein the bar code tape is a continuous bar code tape where a readerdevice to read any GUID along with a length of the shelf of thedistribution center, wherein the bar code tape is comprised of a seriesof discrete bar codes placed adjacent to each other, wherein the barcode tape includes a series of infrared dots of a fixed size and placedat a varying distance apart from each other to facilitate faster readsof a bar code through a mobile device, wherein the mobile device is ableto more quickly focus and read data of the bar code tape by firstidentifying the infrared dots of the bar code tape when identifying thelocation of an item of the inventory, wherein each GUID is unique toeach of the number of segments, wherein each GUID is 48 bits in thelength, and wherein every barcode of the series of discrete bar codeshas a preamble to make it recognizable to the central inventory trackingsystem.
 16. The method of claim 15 further comprising: determining thatthe item of the inventory is scanned associated with the GUID during afulfillment process associated with an ecommerce order using theprocessor and the memory of the central inventory tracking system; andautomatically debiting a financial account of the distribution centerwhen the bar code tape is utilized during the fulfillment processassociated with the ecommerce order using the central inventory trackingsystem.
 17. The method of claim 15 further comprising uniquelyidentifying the location of the item in the distribution center wheneverany GUID associated with the bar code tape is scanned.
 18. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising: determining a set of rows associated withthe shelf; and automatically generating additional bar code tapes andadditional GUIDs associated with each segment of the rows for each oneof the set of rows associated with the shelf based on the number ofsegments determined to be optimal for each row of the set of rowsassociated with the shelf.
 19. The method of claim 18 furthercomprising: calculating the number of segments associated with the shelfbased on at least one of a size, a position, an availability, a demand,and a supply of the item of the inventory to be placed on the shelf. 20.The method of claim 15: wherein the central inventory tracking system toautomatically validate that a particular item is placed in the locationconsistent with a plan of the distribution center when a particular GUIDassociated with the particular item is scanned during an inventoryreplenishment process.